Seeds of Knowledge Library Demonstration Garden grants awarded

Photo above courtesy of West Oaks Branch Library

The Florida Wildflower Foundation has awarded Seeds of Knowledge Library Demonstration Garden grants to six public libraries across the state — doubling the original number of planned recipients thanks to additional funding. These grants will help establish or enhance native plant demonstration gardens that highlight the beauty and ecological value of Florida’s wildflowers.

Each library will receive up to $750 to help fund their garden projects, along with educational materials and native seed packets to distribute free of charge to the public. The program aims to inspire library visitors to incorporate native plants into their own landscapes, while also providing vital habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.

The 2025 grant recipients are:

  • Bay County Public Library, Panama City: This library will establish a native wildflower demonstration garden at its entrance. Serving nearly 150,000 visitors annually, the garden will be a valuable resource for environmental education and post-Hurricane Michael landscape restoration.
  • Fort White Branch Library, Columbia County: The Library will expand its existing community garden into a Florida native plant demonstration garden, replacing remaining non-native plants to enhance public education. Volunteers from the Columbia Seed Library and 4 Rivers Audubon Society will maintain the 3,300 sq. ft. space, which will also feature a native seed library.
  • Hernando County Library, Brooksville: The Hernando County Public Library will establish a Florida native wildflower garden across three areas of the library grounds, creating an educational and ecological resource in downtown Brooksville. This 500 sq. ft. garden will serve as a living classroom for community engagement.
  • City of Tavares Public Library, Lake County: The library will create a native wildflower demonstration garden in Ridge Park’s Palm Circle, a highly visible area in downtown Tavares. This 85 sq. ft. garden will complement the library’s gardening programs and seed library, providing an immersive educational experience.
  • Winter Park Library, Orange Park: The Winter Park Library will establish a native pollinator garden near Martin Luther King Park, creating a 20-by-20-foot educational space overlooking the lake. This hands-on learning site will support pollinators, enhance community engagement, and raise awareness of native plants in an urban setting.
  • New Port Richey Public Library, Pasco County: The library will create a 126 sq. ft. native wildflower garden at its entrance, offering an educational space for visitors. Through interactive programming and signage, the garden will promote biodiversity, conservation and hands-on environmental education.

Launched as a pilot program in 2025, the Seeds of Knowledge grant program encourages public awareness and appreciation of Florida’s native plants. The Foundation plans to expand the program in future years, offering more libraries the opportunity to create native plant learning spaces. Grant applications will open again in January 2026.

Learn more about the Seeds of Knowledge Library Demonstration Garden Grant here.